Latest news with #UHI
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
New subsea partnership at UHI's Fort William campus
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has announced a partnership with an offshore specialist aimed at increasing the number of people working in the subsea industry. Drift Offshore and UHI North, West and Hebrides are to deliver a course on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and subsea equipment at UHI's Fort William campus on Loch Linnhe. The company, which supports offshore industries like renewables, said there was a global shortage of workers in the sector. UHI North, West and Hebrides described the new partnership as a "powerful collaboration".
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Science
- New Indian Express
Environment activists urge GCC to junk plan to build WTE plant at Kodungaiyur
CHENNAI: Environmental organisation Poovulagin Nanbargal has urged the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to withdraw the proposed water-to-energy (WTE) plant at Kodungaiyur, citing a recent study 'Burning Waste, Warming Cities?' carried out in Delhi by the People's Alliance for Waste Accountability The study, released on Tuesday, highlights how Delhi's WTE plants, at Okhla, Bawana, Ghazipur, and Tehkhand, are intensifying the urban heat island (UHI) effect by releasing large volumes of greenhouse gases and thermal emissions. These plants currently burn over 7,250 tonnes of unsegregated municipal solid waste daily, which is 66% of the city's waste. The incineration of each tonne of solid waste emits around 5,500 million cubic metres of flue gas at 200°C and CO equivalent to emissions from over 30 lakh passenger cars.
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Five things India needs to do to combat heatwave
Written by Neeraj Singh Manhas With temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius (113°F) hitting many parts of the country, heatwaves have become a public health and economic emergency. The lack of dedicated infrastructure for heatwaves puts millions at risk of death, heatstroke and dehydration. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme heat, India must act swiftly to establish a robust, nationwide heatwave mitigation framework. Geographically, the country is a heatwave hotspot. More than 80 per cent of the country sees extreme heat between March and June, with northern and central states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, consistently hitting over 40 degrees Celsius. Urban centres such as Delhi, Ahmedabad and Chennai become heat sinks, and the heat gathers momentum on the concrete-heavy skyline thanks to the urban heat island (UHI) effect. In rural zones, there's no relief either. A 2023 Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) study forecasts that heatwaves will become 30 per cent more frequent and severe by 2050, with each one lasting longer and arriving earlier. Without infrastructure to counter these conditions, the toll on human health can be and is devastating. Heatstroke, organ failure, and cardiovascular strain disproportionately afflict the elderly, children, and low-income communities, who lack access to cooling or medical care. The socioeconomic implications are also troubling. Heatwaves threaten the livelihood of India's huge outdoor workforce. Over 40 per cent of the population comprises construction workers, farmers, street vendors, food delivery partners, and rickshaw pullers. In 2022, India lost an estimated $100 billion from heat-induced productivity losses. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), small businesses and the informal economy suffer a disproportionate impact. As soils dry and irrigation systems splutter, farmers confront crop failures and food security is endangered. And as cities strain to meet skyrocketing demand for air-conditioning, their power grids are faltering, with blackouts crippling hospitals, schools and other civic institutions. In 2024, Delhi reported over 200 heatwave-related deaths in a single week, with hospitals overwhelmed and morgues running out of space. These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of systemic unpreparedness. India has precedents to build on. The National Disaster Management Authority's heatwave guidelines, updated in 2019, provide a framework, but their implementation is patchy. States like Odisha, which revolutionised cyclone preparedness with shelters and early warnings, offer a model for heatwave resilience. Ahmedabad's Heat Action Plan, launched in 2013 (also updated in 2019), reduced heat-related mortality by 30 per cent through simple measures like cool roofs and public water distribution. Scaling these successes requires political will, funding, and coordination across central and state governments. Public-private partnerships can accelerate progress. Private firms could supply cooling technologies, while NGOs could manage community outreach. International funding, such as climate adaptation grants, could offset costs, given India's outsized exposure to climate impacts. What does a national heatwave infrastructure look like? First, cooling centres within reach of everyone need to be set up in every town, city, and rural area. The shelters, with water, shade, fans and simple medical services — provided by a local ambulance service — would be a resource to use during intense heat. Ahmedabad's cooling centres prevented many deaths during the 2023 heatwave, but the facilities are rare elsewhere. Second, we need urban planning that prioritises heat-resilient design. The widespread use of reflective roofs, better ventilation, and green spaces outdoors can also do much to bring down outdoor temperatures. These can reduce ambient temperatures significantly. Yet, cities like Delhi, with a meagre 23 per cent tree cover, lag behind global standards. Planting heat-tolerant trees and creating urban forests should be a national priority to combat heat island effects. Third, early warning systems, which are already working for states like Gujarat and Odisha, must be replicated on a nationwide scale. The early warning systems that rely on weather forecasts to give a heat alert should be complemented by public awareness campaigns in native languages to inform the people of the risks of extreme heat and how to prevent them. Mobile apps and SMS alerts can work in rural areas, but they require investment in digital infrastructure. Fourth, cheap cooling systems are important for low-income households. Subsidised fans, evaporative coolers or community cooling stations could help close the gap for the approximately 88 per cent of Indian households that lack access to air conditioning, according to a survey conducted in 2021. Finally, the healthcare sector needs to be ready for a heatwave, with trained staff, plentiful supplies and well-thought-out protocols to deal with the conditions, and patients with heat-related illnesses. Hospitals regularly run out of oral rehydration salts and IV fluids during the worst heat. Building a national heatwave infrastructure is not just a policy choice, it is a moral and economic imperative. The time to act is now, before the next summer scorches more lives and livelihoods. The writer is special advisor for South Asia at the Parley Policy Initiative, Republic of Korea. He is a regular commentator on water security and transboundary river issues in India and South Asia. Views are personal
The National
15-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Historic estate on scenic Scottish island put up for sale
The portfolio in Coll comprises Ballyhaugh residential centre, the four-bedroom Totamore Cottage, and two thatched cottages, offered in three separate lots or as a whole. The estate offers easy access to the white sandy beaches of Hogh Bay and, taken as a whole, encompasses 71.71 acres of land, including a protected loch and grazing fields. Sometimes known as the 'Hawaii of the North', Coll in the Inner Hebrides is known for its stunning landscape and serene atmosphere. The properties featured as part of the estate are located within half a mile of each other, with the surrounding environment including grazing pastures, ancient sites, and a biodiverse freshwater loch designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. READ MORE: Historic estate on scenic Scottish island put up for sale Each of the properties are located approximately five miles from the island's village of Arinagour, which has village stores, a medical centre, café, parish church, fire station, a UHI college campus, fuel station, community centre, and hotel. Angus Kelly, partner at estate agents Bidwells, said: "The estate has fantastic appeal as both a lifestyle and sustainable investment proposition, with its expansive, historically rich island setting representing one of the most breathtaking locations in the Inner Hebrides. "This is a truly unique instruction, and a special one for me personally. Having participated in a gap year with the seller Project Trust when I was younger, I have first-hand experience of the great work the charity has done in Coll and while it is sad that it is moving on, the sale represents an opportunity to put its property and landed assets to new use." Ballyhaugh, also known as the Hebridean Centre, represents a historic building with capacity to accommodate up to 46 people. Individually, this is on the market for offers over £755,000. (Image: Bidwells) Home to international volunteering charity Project Trust, it includes office space, a commercial kitchen, a traditional Celtic 'ceilidh hall' social area, and a lounge and bar area. Covering approximately 71.71 acres, the land that comes with the property includes Ballyhaugh Loch, which is a well-renowned bird-watching site. Totamore Cottage is a four-bedroom, 120-year-old croft house and is up for offers over £425,000. Beinn Tioraidh comprises two thatched cottages that share a grass garden and each feature open plan kitchen and living space, one bedroom, and a bathroom. This is on the market for offers over £420,000.
The Courier
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Three UHI Perth staff fly to China as university tackles financial crisis
Three UHI Perth staff members flew to China during the £2 million financial crisis at the university. The Courier can reveal two employees travelled to far-east Asia on Wednesday while another was already in the country for a holiday. Principal Dr Margaret Cook was originally supposed to join them but has stayed at home for 'health reasons'. It's understood she is currently on a leave of absence. UHI Perth confirmed £8,000 of university cash had been budgeted for the trip abroad. The staff members will be in China for around 10 days each, 'depending on individual travel arrangements'. Nicky Inglis, the director of curriculum for business and science, is leading the foreign visit. He will represent UHI Perth at three graduations for the university college's students in China. The senior staff member will also attend business meetings to discuss the institution's international programmes. Mr Inglis is being accompanied by Heidi Hope, a sector manager who is exploring new academic opportunities for UHI Perth in China. Lin Shen, the university's director of partnerships, is also abroad as a translator and to 'explore new opportunities for collaboration' in the far-east nation. In 2019, UHI Perth bosses including principal Dr Cook were criticised for taking business class flights to China while jobs were at risk. Senior managers made multiple long-haul flights to the Asian country even though staff feared being made redundant. The new staff visit comes while UHI Perth considers measures to cut its £2 million deficit. We revealed last week how the university college suggested axing all degrees, before this was then 'strongly dismissed'. The institution's finance director Gavin Stevenson resigned in April. A UHI Perth spokesperson said: 'UHI Perth – as part of UHI – delivers education opportunities to fee-paying international students. 'As part of this commitment, three members of our staff have travelled to China this month to support our ongoing international partnerships. 'These efforts contribute to our broader vision of international education, where final-year students from our partner institutions in China come to the UK to complete their studies, paying international student fees.'
